was called, and the children loved to see her
coming and saved their cakes and sweets for
her.

When the bank on the other side of the draw
began to throw a narrow shelf of shadow, we
knew we ought to be starting homeward; the
chill came on quickly when the sun got low,
and Antonia's dress was thin. What were we
to do with the frail little creature we had
lured back to life by false pretenses? I offered
my pockets, but Tony shook her head and
carefully put the green insect in her hair, tying
her big handkerchief down loosely over her
curls. I said I would go with her until we could
see Squaw Creek, and then turn and run home.
We drifted along lazily, very happy, through
the magical light of the late afternoon.

All those fall afternoons were the same,
but I never got used to them. As far as we
could see, the miles of copper-red grass were
drenched in sunlight that was stronger and
fiercer than at any other time of the day. The
blond cornfields were red gold, the haystacks
turned rosy and threw long shadows. The
whole prairie was like the bush that burned
with fire and was not consumed. That hour
always had the exultation of victory, of

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v?